2. Notice in the lesson that the last three Prophets wrote only to Judah. They were also later in the timeline. Why do you think that is? (3 marks) square

The last three prophets of the Old Testament, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, prophesied only to Judah (specifically those who had returned from exile in Babylon) and did so later in the timeline for a few key reasons:<br /><br />* **The Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom (Israel):** By the time of these prophets, the northern kingdom of Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians and its people scattered and dispersed in the 8th century BCE. The ten tribes were essentially lost to history, and there was no longer a distinct "Israel" to prophesy to. Judah, the southern kingdom, remained, though it too eventually faced exile in Babylon.<br /><br />* **The Babylonian Exile and Return:** These prophets ministered after the Babylonian exile, which ended in 538 BCE. Their messages were specifically directed to the returning exiles in Judah, encouraging them to rebuild the temple and restore their community and faith. Their prophecies focused on the restoration of Judah and the hope for a future messianic king.<br /><br />* **A Focused Message of Restoration:** The messages of these prophets were tailored to the specific circumstances of the post-exilic community in Judah. They addressed the challenges of rebuilding, the struggles of maintaining faith amidst hardship, and the hope for a renewed covenant relationship with God. Their prophecies were thus focused on a specific audience and a particular historical context.<br />